Pakistan Shaheens beat Hong Kong by 68 runs to qualify for the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2023.
Chasing a target of 161 runs, Hong Kong were dismissed for 92 runs in 18.5 overs.
Khushdil Shah was the pick of the bowlers for Pakistan with figures of 3-13 in four overs.
Arafat Minhas, Sufiyan Muqeem and captain Qasim Akram claimed two wickets each.
Earlier, Pakistan Shaheens had set Hong Kong a target of 161 runs during the quarter-final of the men’s cricket event of Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Aamer Jamal played a belligerent knock, scoring 41 runs in 16 balls. His explosive innings included two fours and four sixes.
Arafat Minhas scored 25 runs in 16 balls with the help of two fours and as many sixes.
Pakistan had lost half their side for only 54 runs but the lower middle-order and tailenders helped the Green Shirts post a competitive total on the board.
Pakistan will face the winner of the match between Afghanistan and Sri Lanka in the semi-final.
Ayush Shukla was the pick of the bowlers for Hong Kong, bagging figures of 4-49 in four overs.
The Shaheens directly qualified for the quarters of the Asian Games by virtue of being one of the top four ICC ranked sides in the continent.
Pakistan Shaheens underwent a five-day camp at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore where players, under the guidance of coaches, engaged in training sessions and featured in match scenarios to get ready for the tournament.
The squad includes 15 players of which seven have already represented Pakistan in international cricket. These include Aamir Jamal (2 T20Is), Arshad Iqbal (1 T20I), Asif Ali (21 ODIs, 55 T20Is), Haider Ali (2 ODIs, 33 T20Is), Khushdil Shah (10 ODIs, 24 T20Is), Shahnawaz Dahani (2 ODIs, 11 T20Is) and Usman Qadir (1 ODI, 23 T20Is)
Pakistan Shaheens squad
Qasim Akram (captain), Omair Bin Yousuf (vice-captain), Aamir Jamal, Arafat Minhas, Arshad Iqbal, Asif Ali, Haider Ali, Khushdil Shah, Mirza Tahir Baig, Mubasir Khan, Muhammad Akhlaq (wk), Rohail Nazir (wk), Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Muqeem and Usman Qadir
